By Garry Smits
Florida Times-Union sports writer
Morris News Service

PONTE VEDRA BEACH - First Fuzzy Zoeller and Fred Couples made runs at the top of the leaderboard. Then Jay Haas. And first-day co-leader Kenny Perry couldn't hang on.

A PGA Tour veteran will win again - someday. But for now, the Generation X set of professional golf continued to muscle its elders aside.

A trio of 20-somethings took control of $3.5 million Players Championship at the halfway point, led by one of Flat Rock, North Carolina's newest residents, Tommy Tolles. He came a shot away from the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass stadium course record with a 64 yesterday to seize a two-stroke lead at 11-under par 133.

Tolles, 29, took advantage of warmer, calmer conditions in the morning to take a lead that held up through the day. Behind him is 24-year-old Justin Leonard (70) and 15-year veteran Mark Calcavecchia (68) at 9-under 135.

And Jacksonville's David Duval (25), who hasn't played four consecutive rounds in more than two months because of a sore shoulder, shot the day's second-best round (66) and is tied for fourth at 8-under 136 with Zoeller (70), Jay Haas (68) and first day co-leader Kenny Perry (71).

Tolles, Leonard and Duval have never won on Tour, but that didn't hinder Tim Herron, Paul Goydos and Scott McCarron, winners of the last three events. Strong of back and seemingly fearless of golf's elite, they're still going strong in an event where most experts thought the veterans would restore the natural order of things.

``I guess these guys have, through sports psychologists and everything, just saying: `hey, there's nothing to be afraid of,'' said Haas. ``I don't know if they have less fear than we had, but I wish they were a little more scared.''

Tolles chopped up the stadium course with no apparent fear. He had only one bogey, at the par-4 14th hole, and responded with three consecutive birdies to close out the best round in the Players so far.

And the native of Fort Myers who now lives in the humble western North Carolina hamlet because he wanted to lead a more quiet life than the southwest Florida town of Cape Coral (``I like things small''), is halfway to the biggest payday on Tour.

``There are a lot of really good young players out here who probably haven't quite gotten the exposure of some of the veterans,'' said Tolles. ``But they have played without any fear. They are not intimidated by some of these guys.''

Duval, whose round was highlighted by a monstrous 50-foot birdie putt at the par-3 eighth hole, agreed that there was nothing to fear of doing head-to-head with golfers that he used to watch in past Players championships when he was one of the top junior golfers in Jacksonville.

``With tours such as Nike and Hooters, the mental toughness you need to win tournaments is given to you,'' said Duval. ``Scott McCarron winning last week was probably a walk in the park compared to having to shoot a certain score last year at Las Vegas to keep his card.''

But even Duval admitted there is a bonus to experience.

``I haven't seen this golf course, but for four rounds in tournament conditions, whereas guys who have been playing here for 10, 15 years have seen it play in all kinds of weather, all kinds of firmness and fastness.''

Such as Calcavecchia, Zoeller and Haas. Zoeller actually got to 11-under after a 16-foot birdie putt at the second hole but faltered with a double-bogey at No. 3. Calcavecchia made up four shots in the last seven holes and Haas' front nine of 32 fueled his round.

``This is a pretty special golf tournament so I think maybe by the end of the week, you might see, hopefully myself included, the veteran-type players,'' said Calcavecchia. ``But I am not expecting some of these younger guys to go backward.''